This is an unusual case study as the child who fell is my daughter. I was able to assess and treat her immediately. If your child falls and hits their head it is important to go immediately to your GP or Accident and Emergency for concussion/TBI assessment. Then once their condition is stable you may like to look at complementary treatment options.​A Brief Case Study:

Seven year old girl fell 3.5 metres vertically onto her head in the April school holidays

Said she felt ‘sleepy’ at first (then yelled and cried loudly)

Osteopathic assessment took place less than five minutes after the injury. The whole top of her head felt very slightly depressed and her cervical spine was side-bent to the left and locked.

Neurologically all tests appeared clear.

Gentle treatment of the neck and head to assist normal range of motion and function of the membranous tissue of her cranium resulted in her feeling ‘fine’.

She was running around happy so there was no indication that she needed a CT scan.

However, two hours later during a walk up a hill she had a headache, so we suspected concussion and she went in the mild Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber. This works by reducing the oedema in the brain tissues and also supplies 5-7 times the usual amount of oxygen to the mitochondria of the neurones which enables more of them to start firing again. This quickly cleared the headache during the session.

She also had some symptoms involving feeling unusual anger and fatigue, also indicating a concussion

Daily osteopathic and mild hyperbaric oxygen sessions for the next three days kept her feeling symptom free and six days after her fall she won her school’s year 3 and 4 cross country trial, even against the boys!

​She has continued to be well now, one year on in April 2017.

This is the seven year old who was concussed, winning her years cross country race.

City Osteopaths and City Hyperbaric are well placed to help people of all ages, in conjunction with their concussion healthcare team. Our Reg Osteopaths are able to gently treat any neck, shoulder and back strains that may have occurred and the hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces brain oedema or swelling and provides the extra oxygen required by injured brain tissue to help the mitochondria to make the energy required to heal damaged or dormant tissue and help restore function.

Ideally, as in this case, we are able to treat the neck injury and concussion as soon as possible after medical assessment after the accident. We like to work in with the concussion care team to help your child make a full recovery. If the concussion occurred many years before it is probably going to take longer to improve or resolve.

Below is some research for the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen in concussion for children:

“Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Severe Head Injury in Children” —Journal of Pediatric Neuroscience. 2012 Jan-April 7(1) 4-8 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401652/Conclusion: In children with traumatic brain injury, the addition of HBOT significantly improved outcome and quality of life and reduced risk of complications. Patients receiving HBOT were significantly better than the control group with decreased hospital stay, better Glasgow Coma Scale and drastic reduction in disability.

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve Post Concussion Syndrome years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – Randomised Prospective Trial” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24260334—PLoS One November 2013 10.137/journal.pone 0079995Conclusion: Convincing results based on a crossover study, demonstrating that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significant brain function improvement in mild TBI patients with prolonged Post-Concussion-Syndrome at late chronic stage, years after injury.The findings here bear the promises that HBOT can be effective in treating other brain impairments like PTSD or repairing radiation damage. It is reasonable to expect that HBOT can help slow down or even reverse metabolic disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

"At around 9 years old I had a head injury with concussion from an accident that left me with trauma symptoms."

This person came in to us at City Hyperbaric in Wellington, to see if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be able to help her recover her health after many years of difficulty. This is her story which she kindly wrote down to help others learn more about what it can do.​"In the last decade I have lived with considerable stress and anxiety ...Now in my mid 50’s I have been noticing the impact of this on my physiology...symptoms just as adrenal fatigue, poor digestion, tendency to constipate, shallow breathing and decline in short term memory. I am a single parent and my budget is extreme ..however with the sense that my health was deteriorating I decided to invest in a series of sessions of mild hyperbaric oxygen .

The chamber room at City Hyperbaric

I had daily sessions for 12 days (minus Sundays) The first was a little uncomfortable for my ears, so I was guided through this and time was taken to gently equalise to the pressure... this discomfort rapidly decreased so by the 3rd session there was no sensation of pain during the equalising process.After the first session I felt somewhat tired however slept deeper than usual that night. I used my time in the hyperbaric chamber to rest in a meditative way trusting the oxygen would stimulate healing in my system. It had the quality of a sacred space!By the second session my constipation was alleviated and during the fortnight I had text book perfect bowel movements! It is now 8 weeks later and I have continued to have a daily or twice daily movement ...this is remarkable given over 4 decades of sluggish bowel. ​

During the period of receiving the oxygen I noticed my breathing dramatically improve..with the breath going right down into the lower and back area of my lungs..this was wonderful to experience and has remained with me. I don’t believe I will ever lose this awareness now. There was an internal sensation hard to describe...the image I had was of my cells plumping up especially in my face and in the cheeks. Many friends commented how well I looked ...and this sense of inner wellness has remained despite there being many challenges these last 2 months since my sessions.

​

Red blood cells and blood plasma highly saturated with oxygen

Before the treatment I had some fear in my life around memory loss... and now I have almost forgotten I had such a fear!! I still am experiencing anxiety ...however have started a programme to retrain the Amygdala’s response to stress. I believe the hyperbaric sessions enabled me to have the energy to start this programme that will turn that deep seated pattern and stress loop around.

After my final hyperbaric session I received a Cranial Osteopathy session and we focused on the head injury. I received what had been a missing experience for me as a child at the time of the concussion ; that of receiving deep compassion and the injury acknowledged . I believe my system needed that quality and skill of holding to heal such a childhood trauma. I also believe that shift occurred in my structure so effortlessly because of the oxygen therapy.

Gentle treatment supporting the membranes of the brain and head to help ease trauma

Lastly having the series of sessions has become a resource in my memory bank... when I imagine the experience of receiving the oxygen, it automatically brings me back to joy and wellbeing.

It did what I hoped, giving me a paradigm shift and huge lift in my healing journey. It also cleared a trauma I had carried for over 45 years.

Thank you City Osteopaths and City Hyperbaric for providing this wonderful therapy. I hope many people transform their health through access to the hyperbaric chamber."

Posted with permission from and thanks to Frances A. Wellington September 2016

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve Post Concussion Syndrome years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – Randomised Prospective Trial” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24260334—PLoS One November 2013 10.137/journal.pone 0079995Conclusion: Convincing results based on a crossover study, demonstrating that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significant brain function improvement in mild TBI patients with prolonged Post-Concussion-Syndrome at late chronic stage, years after injury.The findings here bear the promises that HBOT can be effective in treating other brain impairments like PTSD or repairing radiation damage. It is reasonable to expect that HBOT can help slow down or even reverse metabolic disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

​For more information please see www.cityhyperbaric.co.nzGive us a call on 04 4991439 and speak with our front desk staff to make an appointment for your Hyperbaric Medical and first Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy session

Sebastian graduated from the European School of Osteopathy in the U.K. in 2006. Before coming to New Zealand in 2011 to join City Osteopaths, he worked in Liverpool and London advancing his cranial, visceral and pediatric osteopathy skills. He has completed courses in advanced osteopathic technique. He has assisted in teaching Paediatric care to post graduate osteopaths. Prior to studying Osteopathy he graduated with a degree in Theology.

Sebastian has spent time in Kenya treating orphaned children in the city and women and children of the Pokot tribe in the desert region. He enjoys working with people of all ages and conditions from babies to the elderly. He has particular skill in treating shoulder injuries and providing pre- and post-natal care for mothers and newborns.

With over ten years in full time Osteopathic practice, Sebastian has developed a gentle approach, easing back the layers of problems and compensations in his patients in order to reach and change the root cause of their condition whether that originates from stressors in the physical, mental or emotional.

"I have had long term back and shoulder pain. This has been totally fixed by my osteopath Sebastian in the last three weeks. A great change to my life and lifestyle. Recommend the practice (City Osteopaths) to anyone." T.Lynch

"I have been having seeing Sebastian for the last few months, after suffering from neck, shoulder pain and stiffness and lower back stiffness and discomfort. Most of the pain and stiffness I was experiencing has disappeared and my overall posture has improved significantly. Sebastian has also recommended targeted exercises and magnesium and vitamin B all to assist with my overall recovery".M. Mallet

"I have been seeing Sebastian, and I was a little skeptical initially. However he has helped mobilise my back and pelvis to a point I have never had so much movement in my life. He has been so kind and supportive in every way possible and made me feel comfortable at all times. I have urged so many others to book in and see him". Sarah, Wellington​

When you have had enough of being in pain and would like gentle treatment to help you feel better, call our lovely front desk staff on 04 4991439 to make an appointment or have Sebastian call you back or for more information please see our website www.cityosteopaths.co.nz

​'Concussion can be a very serious and debilitating injury, yet a high proportion of people who receive a concussion do not get any treatment for it. Osteopathy can be highly effective in aiding recovery from concussion, and we are pushing for it to be incorporated into the standard ACC treatment plan for these injuries. Current standard treatment on ACC often consists solely of continued assessment to gauge progress.

​As an example, I recently had a 13yr old male patient present to me following a double concussion playing rugby. The second concussion had been one month prior to me seeing him, and in that period he had been suffering from constant headaches, dizziness and nausea, and vomiting if he over exerted.He was unable to do more than three periods in his school day before his symptoms got to the point he could not continue.He had been assessed at a concussion clinic who were monitoring his progress, but no treatment had been done other than prescribing painkillers to help with the headaches.

The pain is not only in the upper back and neck but also up into the whole head with feeling of dizziness and nausea.

We met for three treatment sessions over the course of the first ten days:

After one osteopathic treatment, he was feeling significantly better.

The nausea was completely gone after the second session, and the headache was nearly completely gone after the third, to the point he had stopped taking any painkillers.​Shortly after this, he was able to return to school full-time, and I have continued to see the patient for a few weeks following to try to ensure a complete and full recovery.

In any head injury, but concussion particularly, there is a large amount of trauma delivered to the tissues of the head and neck. This leads to a tightening of these tissues, which in turn causes compression of the head and spine, and restriction of fluid flow through these structures. This can cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, nausea, dizziness and pain.

Osteopathy, and in particular Cranial Osteopathy, works in a gentle and non-invasive manner to mobilise the connective tissues and muscles around the head and neck in order to reduce this compression and restore normal fluid flow and drainage.WebsitePhone​​More information on our osteopaths click here

Climbing trees is a fantastic part of life for kids in New Zealand. It teaches them balance, coordination and bravery. However sometimes they can and do fall.

​What do you do if your child falls out of a tree and suffers from a concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury?

You need to go straight to accident and emergency for assessment or to your GP if the initial symptoms are less severe.

Recently at City Hyperbaric we saw a ten year old boy who loves climbing trees. He swung in a tree and hit his head, causing a loss of consciousness of around ten minutes and resulting in a fortnight off school.

​Four weeks later he was still suffering from the concussion so came up from the South Island to our practice. On doing our head injury questionnaire, it showed his behaviour was very difficult and he was suffering constant headaches of 8 or 9/10 severity. He had reduced attention span, impaired comprehension, dizziness and angry outbursts all 7-9/10 in severity.

This is what we did to help him recover:

He had two gentle osteopathic treatments, five days apart.

He had two 60 minute Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy sessions each day for the seven days (14 in total).

By the Wednesday (third day of treatment) his headaches were down to a 6/10 and his mother reported his behaviour was improving

By Saturday his headaches were 2 or 3/10.

On the final/seventh day he re-did our head injury questionnaire and had improved on all parameters. His headaches were now 0/10 and his attention span, anxiety, dizziness and angry behaviour were all 0/10 or 2/10

What was really wonderful was that he had returned to his calm, happy, curious self.

I have followed up with his mother now six weeks on andhe has not had any headaches at all since the combined Osteopathic and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment. ​

The Featherston St City Hyperbaric Chamber

All our Hyperbaric technicians are trained, experienced and skilled. Before coming in for a session you will be sent a HBOT medical questionnaire and when you arrive the process will be fully explained. The most important ability you need for going in the chamber is to be able to equalise your ears as if you were flying or diving. At City Osteopaths and City Hyperbaric we like to work in with your concussion care team to help you make the optimal recovery.

Some research on HBOT and for Head injury:“Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Severe Head Injury in Children” —Journal of Pediatric Neuroscience. 2012 Jan-April 7(1) 4-8 Conclusion: In children with traumatic brain injury, the addition of HBOT significantly improved outcome and quality of life and reduced risk of complications. Patients receiving HBOT were significantly better than the control group with decreased hospital stay, better Glasgow Coma Scale and drastic reduction in disability.

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve Post Concussion Syndrome years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – Randomised Prospective Trial” —PLoS One November 2013 10.137/journal.pone 0079995Conclusion: Convincing results based on a crossover study, demonstrating that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significant brain function improvement in mild TBI patients with prolonged Post-Concussion-Syndrome at late chronic stage, years after injury.​Please see our information page here http://www.cityosteopaths.co.nz/hyperbaric.html for more detailed information including the costs and more research. We do provide a discounted Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy fee for children with a head injury on a case by case basis.